Current-interrupter.



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" NITED STATES PATENT Ormea ELlHU THOMSON, OF SVVAMPSCOTT, AND ROBERT SHAND, OF LYNN,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNORS TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COM- PANY, OF NElV YORK.

CU BRENT-INTERRU PTER.,

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,015, dated may e, 190e. AppliCatOn led Malll 8,1900. Serial No. 15780. (No model.)

fo all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that We, ELIHU THOMSON, re-v siding at Swampscott, and ROBERT SHAND,re

siding at Lynn county of Essex, State of Mas.

sachusetts, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Current-lnterrupters, (Docket No. 1,27l,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic interrupters for electric currents, comm only called electrolytic interrupters, the object being to provide an organization of great simplicity of construction and facility of adjustment of the anode-surface of the interrupter, com pact relation of the operating parts, and facility ot introducing or withdrawing them from the liquid conductor.

In carrying out ourinvention we mount the anode and cathode on a common frame so related that both electrodes may be withdrawn from the liquid and cleaned orinspected and adjusted relatively to one another, so as to vary the extent of the anode exposure. The construction we prefer to employ consists of a non-conducting supporting-tube, such as hard rubber, through Which extends a copper rod or wire, terminating at its end in a platinum tip of smaller cross-section, which protrudes through a closely-fitting openingin the end of the insulating supporting-tube, alead tube or other metal tube constituting the cathode surrounding the outside of the insulating-support and having its lower end in close proximity to the platinum anode. The upper end of the insulating supporting-tube is screw-threaded and cooperates with a nut connected with a grooved ring fastened to the rod or Wire, the organization being such that when the nut is turned the copper rod, and with it the platinum anode, is shifted in the supportingtube, permitting the extent of its exposure to the liquid conductor tobe varied. Each of the electrodes is provided with a terminal, by which the interrupter may be included in an electric circuit, and a Washer of soft rubber is provided on the outside of the tubular cathode,- by Which the extent of immersion of the interrupting element may be varied in the licpiid conductorD As t-hus organized' the interrupter element may be mounted on a Wooden cover or othersupport, by which it may be suspended within a widenecked bottle or jar, in which the liquid conu d uctor or electrolyte may be placed. By such an organization the essential parts of the interrupter are reduced to a very small compass, and the device may be readily inspected or cleaned for adjustment or removal from the conducting-bath and an organization Very convenient for storage when not in use is provided.

The invention comprises, therefore, an element for aliquid current-interrupter in which the anode and cathode are mounted on a common frame relatively adjustable, so as to vary the extent of exposure of the anode. It comprises also an interrupter element of the kind described in which the anode is inclcsed within the cathode and movable therein for purposes of adjustment to its exposed surface.

lt comprises also other features, which will be more particularly hereinafter pointed out and will be deiinitelyindicated in the claims appended to this specification.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates our invention, l represents a conductL ing rod or Wire, which may be conveniently a copper wire, to the lower end of which is attached in good conducting relation, as by welding or soldering, a thinner wire 2, of platinum. A si1pporting-fraine, which may be a tube ot insulating material or a tube lined with insulating material, incloses the copper wire, as indicated at 3, the lower end ofthe support being provided with an openL ing forming a close lit for the platinum wire 2. XVe prefer to form this support of hard rub-A ber, though any organization by which that part ot the anode and its connected conduce tor which enters the conducting liquid is protected from contact With the liquid may be provided.v The main portion of the inclosing tube might even be formed of sott rubber. The tip ot the support 3 is contracted in diameter, and on the outside is carried a tubular shell 4, which forms the cathode of the inter# rupter and which may be made of sheet-lead or a leaden tube, the lower end of which is in close proximity to the tip of the support through which the anode projects. The upper end of the support should be rigid and is provided with a screw-thread, coperating with a corresponding thread, and an adjusting-nut the upper end of which carries a yoke engaging a greoved collar G, 'fastened to the copper wire. Thus an adjustment of the nut 5 moves the anode with relation to the support and permits the platinum tip to be protruded to a greater or less extent from the tip of the support. The amount ot such protrusion varies the rate of interruption of the circuit in which the interrupter element is included. To the upper end of the cathode t is secured a conductor, which may be soldered or otherwise connected in good electric relation thereto. A simple and effective con-- struction may be provided by Winding a wire several times about the tube and soldering it fast. rihecircuit-terminalsmaybeconuected to the two electrodes by binding-posts or connectors, as indicated in the drawing. The element may be suspended in the conducting liquid hy a cover 7 or any other form of support thro ugh wh ich .the element passes looselyT and is held suspended by a soft-rubber washer S. It a solid cover he employed, one or more openings may he made to permit escape ot the gases formed when an electrolytic bath is employed. \Vhen using the element, it may be suspended over the neck of a widemouthed bottle or jar in which a conducting liquid is placed. The latter may be ot any suitable character-such, for example, as a solution of sulfuric acid in water.

YVhat we claim as new, and desire to secure hy Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. An element for an automatic currentinterrupter comprising an anode and cathode mounted on a common trame7 the former being protected from access ol the liquid conductor except at its tip, and means for adjusting it to vary the extent of exposed surface.

2. An element (for an automatic eurrentinterruptor comprising an anode within a tubular inclosure, a cathode supported on the out-side et said inclosure, means for insulat ing the two electrodes from one another, and adjusting devices for varying the extent ot exposed anode-surface.

An element for an automatic currentinterruptor comprising a tubular insulatingsupport, an anode extending therethrough, adjusting devices for varying the extent of projection ot the anode from the support, and a tubular cathode mounted on the outside of the support.

4L. An element for an electrolytie interruptor, comprisiiig a tubular insulating-support, an anode extending therethrough', an adjusting-nut on the top oi' the support i'or va rying the extent of projection of the anode, and a tubular cathode on the outside of the support having its lower end in juxtaposition to the exposed part of the anode.

5. An element for an electrolytic inter rupter comprising an insulating supporting tube, a conductor of hase metal extending therein, a platinum wire mounted on the end 'of the conductor and extending through the insulatirig-support, means for adjusting the extent oi' protrusion ol' the platinum wire, and a cathode mounted on the outside ot the tu^ hular support.

G. An element for an electrolytie .interrupter comprising a t uhnlar cathode,an an odo extending therethrough, but insulated therefrom, a perforated tip through which the anode extends, an adjusting device for varying its amount of protrusion, and an elastic washer' on the outside et the anode to support the elementen the eoverof a vessel con taining an electrolyte.

in witness whereof we have hereunto sot our hands this 5th day of March, 1900.

ELIHU '.FIIOMSON. ROBERT sIlA'NI).

iVitnesses:

DUoALn McKnmor, .To'uN B'IoMANUs, 

